What do I mean when I use the word “Peace” in my concerts? Do I mean peace versus war? Many people ask me initially if my “Peace Begins with Me” or “Peace Begins with Me-We’re Bully Free Teaching Concerts” for elementary school ages and preschoolers are politically-oriented. My intention in each of the concerts is to raise a child’s awareness and empowerment that PEACE is not about the world out there somewhere; it is about you and me, and everything we say, think, do and feel within ourselves and towards others is all we can control with certainty. I have a song that I sing in my concerts called “You Can Change You,” (it can be found on the CD, “Celebrate!” and on www.cherylmelody.com), and that message is the essence of what I mean by Peace Begins with Me. Through meaningful music and lyrics, poetry, storytelling, my personal sharing of my childhood background with bullying, peace pledges that the children create themselves, multicultural flags, puppets and instruments, unique vibrational instruments, and the entire group of children and adults assuming the role of the Peace Begins with Me Earth Singers….children are approached in a creative arts way for the messages that adults usually lecture children about….maybe, just maybe, even one child who is teasing someone, bullying someone, gossiping about someone will hear the rap or song or poem that I am sharing; REALLY hear the words; maybe the child who is being bullied and teased will feel more understood and empowered. My passion is to share this interactive concert with the world, because for my own life, this is my example as a role model and creative performing artist…to mirror and find effective ways to teach the paths that can lead towards a Peace Begins with Me life of joy, love, caring, sharing and respect for our self, respect for each other and respect for our earth.
Cheryl Melody Award-Winning Performing Artist, Recording Artist, Keynote Speaker, Workshop Facilitator, Educator, Peace through Music Creative Arts Performer:
